SarahD

Utterly brilliant from start to finish

Wow!
From start to finish this is a brilliant drama. The main characters have so much chemistry (even when she does want to stab him in the eye with a chopstick) and their support teams are fabulous with plenty of amusing moments to further elevate this story. Fabulous costumes, fight scenes and attention to detail round off this production.
Not gonna lie, there is plenty of blood and drama with believable bad guys and the odd death thrown in..
Had me hooked very quickly and binge watched the whole thing as I just couldn’t put it down.
Will definitely watch this again.

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Lots of epic scenes and a barrage of emotion

I binge watched this but due to not having a subscription to Youku many of the scenes (often pivotal) were missing so I’ve had to scrabble around on YouTube to fill in some (but sadly not all) of the gaps. It would probably pay to subscribe to get the complete picture.
The story while complex and brilliant is sometimes frustrating when the main characters put themselves in harm’s way without proper backup.
As the chapters pass the main characters grow and develop beautifully so that when some of them die, it is both heartbreaking and memorable. The lad who plays Shrimp is an incredible actor and I hope he goes on to other things.
The ending was open so that although we know ML is dying, we do not know exactly what happened. Did he really leave to die alone? Difficult to say although his SiC is absent from the last few scenes. I hope he didn’t as she begged him not to but that’s just my take on things.
Cannot fault any of the acting but as usual Zhao Lusi and Liu Yuning were exemplary and had incredible chemistry.
Would I watch this again? Absolutely, provided I could get the complete storyline with every scene included

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Should be called manipulative mother takes over

Very surprised by this drama as most things with Xu Kai and Yang Zi in are fabulous but this was very disappointing.
Plot was very thin and if her mother had been in my life I would have excommunicated her in about chapter 6. Who arranges an engagement party behind their daughter’s back to a man she broke up with months before and is surprised when it does down about as well as a pork pie in a synagogue.
The love story between FL and ML is flimsy at best although both Xu Kai and Yang Zi act their socks off, especially in the sadder parts of this story when some of the characters die.
That said most of the actors and their acting skills are believable and there are a few amusing moments (mainly at the expense of Xu Kai) even though the plot is terrible.
Wouldn’t bother again, sadly

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Bit disappointed TBH

After the tragic ending of One and Only and the vow FL lead made at the end, I expected more from this sequel.
I felt the chemistry was lacking most of the way through, there was no alluding to their past until she fell off the balcony (whatever happened to the bad guy? A vague comment from the parents…) and I get that Allen Ren may have signed a no kissing agreement but they didn’t even hug or show any form of physical affection either in public or private made this majorly frustrating and frankly unbelievable.
The only upside was the lawyer who was great eye candy and a brilliant actor and the occasional bit of light relief.
If you want a slow burn romance that only really comes alive in the last few episodes then perhaps this is for you but I found the whole thing a bit dreary

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Boy, what a ride of emotions

I sobbed my way through this from about half way through!
This is a powerful story of love, honour and sacrifice that had me hooked from early on. Although the main characters took a while to warm up, by the end you’ll be rooting for them so much.
Set across two main plot lines (that involve the same characters) over a long period of time, it gets interesting in the second half as the FL gains snippets of information from what happened earlier in her life.
ML plays 2 distinct characters and it takes a while for the truth to be uncovered but when it is, boy will the tears start again.
Been a while since I watched this and I think it may be time to watch it again
UPDATE:
Absolutely my favourite c drama ever. This is the second time of watching it and it was even better than the first time. It was the first c drama I ever came across and I only watched it a second time as I wondered if my lingering positive feelings were OTT - first drama rose coloured spectacles and all that - they weren’t. From start to finish this was breathtaking, silly, funny, frustrating, anger inducing, poignant and powerful. Everyone should watch this at least once ❤😍😍

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Lots to love and hate about this drama

The twist, windy, curveball filled plot follows two characters who seem to love and hate each other with equal passion yet the plot only starts to make any sense once the FL (Hua Ru Yue, AKA the Grandmaster of the Yinlian Sect AKA immortal goddess Siling) steps out from behind her poor quality junior cultivator disguise (Li Qing Yue) and the viewer realises they’ve met before and that there is a huge amount of baggage between them.
Her love interest / arch nemesis Bai Juisi ( AKA Immortal Lord of Dacheng) knows who she is even disguised as the helpless yet adorably naive Li Qing Yue and eventually forces her to admit who she really is. Once the truth is out, this sets the storyline for several of the characters who love or hate her depending on how they first met her, mostly these views never change.
The supporting actors are brilliant and there are some fantastic and often funny one liners from them (especially in the beginning when half of the Yinlian Sect head honchos can’t recall Bai Lu’s character and even her master has almost no idea who she is!).

What to love: phenomenal acting from every member of the cast, beautiful costumes with great production values and excellent choreographed fight scenes. The emotions that the characters experience are so raw, honest and believable. There is excellent attention to detail in terms of what supporting cast are up to when the main characters in a scene are doing their thing. For example, ML turns into a petulant child that can be seen kicking furniture with boredom as the ‘grown ups’ discuss how to deal with the baddie!

What to get frustrated about: The story is told piece meal, flitting back and forth between present day and flashbacks which keeps the viewer guessing though at times this does tend to confuse somewhat until more of the puzzle pieces emerge. Additionally, although everything turns out well in the end the final scenes are a little confusing and the viewer has to rack their brains to understand the refences made by Hua Ru Yue and put them into context. Also at the end the baddie gets a complete change of fate and therefore has no need to turn evil but this absolute 180 doesn’t make sense as there should have been some sort of butterfly effect and there isn’t..

Overall a great watch and the music is wonderful. Would I watch it again? Absolutely, even if just for Joseph Zeng’ puppy dog eyes 😍

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There are some truly hilarious moments in this kids break up and fall in love again as adults drama

I really enjoyed the chemistry between the Fl & ML though I will admit I find Tang Sonyun a little bit mumsy.
The plot follows 2 kids that meet and fall in love a high school (he’s the school heart throb and she’s just miss normal and sweet). She has a stable, loving family and his is unstable and difficult yet despite their backgrounds they fall deeply in love and when they meet up again 10 years later they just pick up where they left off.
The plot is sweet and at times absolutely hilarious ( the marriage proposal of his best friend) and the support cast really add extra dimension to the whole plot.
If you want a feel good storyline then I can’t recommend this one enough.

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Great story but can’t see the chemistry

Great story and some of the supporting cast have better acting skills (chemistry) than the main characters.
Xu Kai acts his little cotton socks off but I just can’t always see the chemistry between him and Tan Songyun though there are plenty of sweet, intimate moments that are on point (the shaving scene for example).
The struggle to build a strong fledgling business is really obvious and the team the FL has around her are brilliant, especially the actors He Rui Xian and Tang Zhen Chao and you feel their struggles with both their private and corporate lives.
Cute little story but doesn’t pack a punch (for me) the way some of Xu Kai’s other work does. Perhaps it’s because it doesn’t run through all the emotions we often get in a c-drama

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In my top 5

If you want a nice and easyfeel good story with a good laugh, great plot development and fabulous acting then story is for you. There is something for everyone in this drama and the phrase ‘karma is a bitch’ definitely comes to mind with at least one of the bad guys.
Ding Yuxi and Ester Yu work really well together and although I often find her characters a bit too sweet somehow it works for this plot. The ML & FL have great chemistry even though at certain points it’s clear that none of the characters really know what they’re feeling. Don’t worry though it all works out in the end.
The support actors are excellent and as usual initially there’s a love triangle to add to the chaos caused by emotional immaturity.
What’s not to like

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Great story, great chemistry

Bai Lu and Dylan Wang have great chemistry in a well rounded plot that starts off with a slow burn but delivers a great story.
FL is a financial reporter that is determined to get an interview with ML who is elusive and reluctant to be interviewed. After a while there is an undercurrent of mutual interest that morphs into something more.
Both actors really bring their characters to life in a believable way and their love story is supplemented by great acting from the other main and support actors. As their characters grow together they bring out the best in each . Sheis fun yet dedicated and he is powerful yet playful
There is plenty of genuine and powerful emotion but this what I’ve come to expect from Bai Lu as she definitely makes whoever she acts opposite bring out their a-game

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In my top 5 favourites

This story is one filled with intrigue, manipulation, bravery and loyalty.
There are lighthearted moments through to ones where the depths of despair and personal sacrifice come through loud and clear.
The characters are flawed and believable and the story develops layer by layer and very early on it is evident that not all is as it seems.
The chemistry between Zhang Linghe and Bai Lu is a slow burn but by the end the sparks fly spectacularly and all of the actors really showcase their talents.
The set is incredible with amazing attention to detail & sumptuous costumes and the fight scenes are realistic and at times funny (qins do not make good weapons).
It needs to be watched (at least) twice as there is so much to take in and quite a few subtle prompts that I missed the first time

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Roller coaster ride that deserves to be watched more than once

Despite its large number of episodes, this has to set the gold standard for period dramas in terms of both plot and character development.
Wei Yinglow enters the forbidden city to find out what really happened to her sister and to avenge her death. Boy does she do this wholeheartedly and very effectively.
There is plenty of drama, love and heartache as well as some extremely brilliant baddies and manipulative behaviour. This is not light reading but there are plenty of tears and lots of heartache
Throughout the whole thing the FL stays true to her goal but meets some incredible people along the way.
Xu Kai, Nie Yuan and Wu Jin Yan lead an impressive cast where even the supporting cast hold their own magnificently.
Have watched this twice already and will probably watch it again at some point (if nothing else but to see Fuca Fuheng in action…)

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Utterly brilliant writing leads to a mesmerising experience

Set against the turbulent times created by the Japanese 21 Demands, you will be sucked into this story from the get go.
On the second time of watching (for me), my daughter and I cackled, sniggered and outright belly laughed during the first episode and then like me she was hooked.
The pairing of Xu Kai and Bai Lu is brilliant as they navigate their way through from hateful roomies to besties and beyond and their characters (like all the others) are well rounded and well acted. Little nuances help make the characters even more believable (Xu Kai looking at his watch as the CO droned on about the rules and regulations in the first episode) sets the tone for the characters.
There’s love, laughter, poignant and gut clenching moments throughout the plot and the set is incredible.
Bravo

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